Panthers

Panthers Hammer Bruins, 6-2

SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 15: Goaltender Jose Theodore #60 of the Florida Panthers is congratulated by teammates after the end of the game against the Boston Bruins on March 15, 2012 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Bruins 6-2. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Florida Panthers

Miami Marlins

SUNRISE, Fla. (CBSMiami) – The Florida Panthers needed to get hot coming into the final month of the season to stay in first place in the Southeast Division. Luckily, the Panthers have seemingly hit their stride as the regular season winds down.

Florida has won three straight games and Thursday’s victory increased their lead in the Southeast Division to three points ahead of the Washington Capitals.

“We want to play well at home to enthuse our fan base,” Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said. “We want to be homers, be a good home team, I think we’ve shown that.”

Boston, which was one of the toughest teams to score on in the NHL, gave up six goals for the second straight game. Star goalie Tim Thomas said his team’s play recently was “twilight zone-ish.” The Bruins are 1 for 15 on the power play over their last seven games.

Florida F Kris Versteeg, tied with Tomas Fleischmann as the team’s leading scorer in goals (22), missed his ninth consecutive game with a lower-body injury.